ANKARA / ISTANBUL, 4 March (BelTA - Anadolu) - The Turkish Ministry of
Culture and Tourism announced on Monday the discovery of a marble statue
of Hermes, the messenger of Zeus—the pantheon's chief deity or a sky
and weather god in Greek mythology—as well as fragments of statues of
Aphrodite, Eros, Artemis, and Nemesis during excavation at the ancient
city of Aspendos, 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Antalya.
"In Aspendos, a silent witness of time, figures that have been buried for centuries are now coming to light. During the ongoing excavations at Aspendos, which is part of our 'Heritage for the Future' project, a Hermes statue from the Roman Empire period has been uncovered," Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said in a statement.
According to the statement, during the 2024 excavations at the ancient city of Aspendos in Antalya, a marble statue of Hermes was found among the ruins of a monumental fountain (nymphaion) located on the southern side of the entrance, east of the Theatre Street.
The statue of Hermes, holding a purse in his right hand and, with his left, his cloak and caduceus, the staff he carried, also featured a ram beside his left foot.
Hermes is considered the herald of the gods, such as Zeus, and is considered the protector of trade, thieves, merchants, and travelers.
All of the fragments of the statue from excavations were reassembled to present a near-fully complete version of the monument.
The statue, including its base, stands at a height of 1.65 meters (5.4 feet), and based on its stylistic features, is dated to the Roman Imperial Period (late 2nd century - early 3rd century AD).
Once an important cultural and commercial center during the Roman Empire, Aspendos is an ancient city located in the Antalya Province on the southern coast of Türkiye. It is renowned for having one of the world’s best-preserved ancient theaters, and it still hosts performances today.
Excavations also uncovered heads believed to belong to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, and Eros, the god of love. The sculptures reflect the region's unique artistic style and the aesthetic understanding of the period.
As part of the "Heritage for the Future" project, 2024 excavations in the same area also uncovered body fragments believed to belong to Artemis, the goddess of hunting and wildlife, and Nemesis, the symbol of justice, balance, fate, and revenge.
"In Aspendos, a silent witness of time, figures that have been buried for centuries are now coming to light. During the ongoing excavations at Aspendos, which is part of our 'Heritage for the Future' project, a Hermes statue from the Roman Empire period has been uncovered," Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said in a statement.
According to the statement, during the 2024 excavations at the ancient city of Aspendos in Antalya, a marble statue of Hermes was found among the ruins of a monumental fountain (nymphaion) located on the southern side of the entrance, east of the Theatre Street.
The statue of Hermes, holding a purse in his right hand and, with his left, his cloak and caduceus, the staff he carried, also featured a ram beside his left foot.
Hermes is considered the herald of the gods, such as Zeus, and is considered the protector of trade, thieves, merchants, and travelers.
All of the fragments of the statue from excavations were reassembled to present a near-fully complete version of the monument.
The statue, including its base, stands at a height of 1.65 meters (5.4 feet), and based on its stylistic features, is dated to the Roman Imperial Period (late 2nd century - early 3rd century AD).
Once an important cultural and commercial center during the Roman Empire, Aspendos is an ancient city located in the Antalya Province on the southern coast of Türkiye. It is renowned for having one of the world’s best-preserved ancient theaters, and it still hosts performances today.
Excavations also uncovered heads believed to belong to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, and Eros, the god of love. The sculptures reflect the region's unique artistic style and the aesthetic understanding of the period.
As part of the "Heritage for the Future" project, 2024 excavations in the same area also uncovered body fragments believed to belong to Artemis, the goddess of hunting and wildlife, and Nemesis, the symbol of justice, balance, fate, and revenge.
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